Cross Collar Choke Basics and Advanced Methods

The cross collar choke is a versatile and effective submission hold that can be used in various martial arts and self-defense situations. It's essential to understand the basics and advanced methods of applying this hold.

To start, the cross collar choke is most effective when applied from a standing position, where you can use your body weight to generate power. This is because your body weight can be used to compress the neck and restrict blood flow.

The cross collar choke works by constricting the blood flow to the brain, causing the person to lose consciousness. This is achieved by applying pressure to the carotid arteries, which are located on either side of the neck.

In a real-world scenario, the cross collar choke can be a lifesaver in situations where you need to defend yourself against a larger or more aggressive opponent.

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The cross-collar choke is a powerful technique that can catch opponents off guard. This is because it squeezes the blood supply to the head using the radial bone and ulna.

Restricting blood flow to the head can lead to a loss of consciousness. This makes it essential to understand the mechanics behind the cross-collar choke.

The radial bone and ulna work together to constrict the blood vessels, depriving the brain of oxygen. This can cause a person to lose consciousness quickly.

Apart from restricting blood flow, the cross-collar choke can also stimulate the vagus nerve. This can slow down the heart rate, making it even harder for the person to tap out.

The combination of restricted blood flow and slowed heart rate can be a "dual whammy" effect. This is what makes the cross-collar choke so challenging for some people to escape.

Additional reading: How to Put on Choke Collar

The Cross Collar Choke has seen its fair share of variations over the years. One of them is the X-Choke, which is executed by gripping the opponent's opposite lapel with your hand, creating an "X" with your arm and wrists.

This variation is commonly performed in two main positions: full mount and closed guard. However, it's worth noting that the X-Choke can be adapted to other positions as well.

Leandro Lo and Romulo Barral have made submissions with the cross choke from the knee slide guard pass.

To perform the cross-collar choke, you can use various techniques, including the knee slice and mount positions.

From the knee slice, opponents often try to squeeze your leg to prevent the pass, but as soon as they turn to their side, you can get the first choking hand.

Kneeling on your posting leg and crunching is a great way to finish the choke quickly, but it's better to take your time and follow proper form.

Getting the second grip from the mount can be tricky, but a good way to do it is to cut your opponent to look at the other side, allowing you to sink your first grip by moving your head to that side.

To successfully apply the choke from the mount, you need to pay attention to mount position, weight distribution, balance, and defeating your opponent's neck protection.

The Knee Slice Technique is a great way to execute a cross-collar choke. It's very common for opponents to squeeze your leg to prevent the pass.

As soon as your opponent turns to their side, you can instantly get the first choking hand. This is a crucial moment to seize the opportunity.

To successfully execute the knee slice, you'll need to kneel on your posting leg and crunch. This will give you the leverage you need to finish the choke.

With the first choke in place, the second choke will become much easier to achieve.

You can also use the Pomodoro Technique, which involves working in focused 25-minute increments, followed by a 5-minute break. This technique can help you stay focused and avoid burnout.

The 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto principle, can also be a useful technique to apply in your work or personal projects. This principle states that 80% of results often come from 20% of efforts.

Breaking tasks into smaller, manageable chunks can also help you stay organized and make progress on larger projects. For example, if you're writing a report, you might break it down into smaller tasks like researching, outlining, and drafting.

Mind mapping can be a helpful technique for brainstorming and organizing ideas. This involves creating a visual map of ideas and concepts to help you see relationships and connections.

The Eisenhower Matrix can also be a useful tool for prioritizing tasks and managing your time. This involves categorizing tasks into four quadrants based on their urgency and importance.

To successfully finish an X-Choke from mount, you need to pay attention to your mount position, weight distribution, balance, and defeating your opponent's neck protection.

Roger Gracie, a BJJ pro fighter, has one of the highest numbers of cross-collar chokes from the mount, which emphasizes the importance of mastering this technique.

Getting heavy on the opponent's hip is crucial to prevent them from doing a reversal, and you'll need both hands to maintain control.

Roger Gracie chooses one side to sink his first grip by moving his head to that side, becoming heavy on one side to remove one grip without getting reversed.

Getting the second grip from the mount can be just as tricky as getting the second grip when playing closed guard, but a good way to do it is to cut your opponent to look at the other side.

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Defending and Countering a Cross Collar Choke is crucial to stay safe in a submission-heavy sport like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

The first step in defending a cross collar choke is to fight the hands and not let them get the first collar grip.

To counter a cross collar choke, bridge and sweep to the same side the attacker is attacking. Control their wrists and knee/leg to prevent a post.

A strong bridge with your legs and a full motion to the side they don't have a post can put you on top of your opponent.

If the attacker has control on one side, bump your hips and bridge to the same side, causing them to be unbalanced and allowing you to come up in a more dominant position.

In a tight spot, pinch their elbows together by putting your palms to their elbows and pushing inwards, preventing them from creating a wide "X" pattern.

Here are the simple steps to defend and counter a cross collar choke:

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, strong grips are crucial for establishing control and creating opportunities for submissions. A great opponent is one that is difficult to submit, and a good defense creates a pathway to offense.

Good grips allow grapplers to work effectively, and submissions are usually executed after a successful defense. The art of guard passing is a cornerstone in mastering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, as it enables grapplers to bypass opponents' defenses and advance their position.

Establishing a strong grip is essential for executing a cross collar choke, which requires a firm hold on the opponent's collar. A good defense is critical in creating a pathway to offense, and a strong grip is key to achieving this.

Escaping a cross collar choke requires quick thinking and precise movement.

To start, it's crucial to fight the hands and not let them get the first collar grip. This will give you a fighting chance to counterattack.

If your opponent has control on one side, bump your hips and bridge to the same side, causing them to be unbalanced. This allows you to come up in a more dominant position.

Bridge and sweep to the same side they are attacking, controlling their wrists and knee/leg to prevent a post.

A strong bridge with your legs and a full motion to the side they don't have a post can put you on top of your opponent.

If all else fails, pinch their elbows together by putting your palms to their elbows and pushing inwards, preventing them from creating a wide "X" pattern.